The Ukrainian Embassy in Canada is also referred to as the Ukraine's diplomatic mission and it is situated in Ottawa in Ontario. The Ukraine also has a consulate in Toronto and has very favourable views of Canada as it was the first country to recognize the independence of the Ukraine in 1991. This led to the setting up of the Embassy of Ukraine in 1992 and was a symbol of the very friendly relations that exist between Canada and the Ukraine. These close relations have been strengthened by the fact that there is a large Ukranian community based in Canada.
The Embassy of Ukraine was first set up in rented apartments but later on it was moved to a heritage building on Metcalfe Street- a building which was first a home to people in the mortgage and investment business.The move was enabled by donations from Ukranian Canadians; the embassy is currently situated at the corner of Somerset and Metcalfe. In 1991 the building was purchased by the New Democratic Party for two million dollars and was then set up as the party's headquarters. In the elections of 1993 the National Democratic Party lost its official party status and was deeply in debt. It was these two things that resulted in the sale of the building to the Ukrainians.
By 1994 when the Embassy building was purchased the Ukranian delegation was experiencing rapid expansion and the original embassy on Metcalfe is still in use as a Ukraine consular building in Ottawa.
